Cut-off mechanism of cigarette making machines



'Dec. 15, 1931. A .P.QDMORE 1,836,550

CUT-OFF MECHANISM OF CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES Filed April 7, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l 5 cZm ore llvvelv 70R A. PODMORE Filed April 7,

' Dec. 15, 19 31.

CUTOFF MECHANISM OF CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES M IMWP mw ww ww 3 N w W W Dec. 15, 1931. PQDMQRE 1,836,550

CUT-OFF MECHANISM OF CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES Filed April 7, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR PODMORE, OF HATCIIENI), MIDDLESE X, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN MACHINE & FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY CUT-OFF MECHANISM ,OF CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES Application filed April 7,1926, Serial No. 100,407, and in Great Britain May 12, 1925.

The present invention relates to the cut-off mechanism used in cigarette-making machines and the like. In constructions hitherto in use the actual cutting device has been a cutting blade which is rotated at high speed and which is depressed at intervals so that the edge of the blade crosses the path of the wrapped tobacco and so cuts off equal lengths. In order to obtain this dipping motion complicated mechanism is required and it is one of the objects of the present invention to dispense with the dipping motion of the blade. A further object of the invention is to pro vide improved means for sharpening the knife blade of the mechanism.

According to the invention the cutter is in the form of a disc having a cutting blade projecting therefrom and extending over a portion only of the periphery of the disc. Preferably the blade is adjustably mounted on the disc so that it may be adjusted to take u wear. Further, the cutting edge of the biizde is preferably curved eccentrically to the centre of the disc upon which it is mounted, so that a draw-cut action is produced when the apparatus is in operation. The disc carrying the blade is so mounted that it can be rotated on its centre, the axis of rotation of the blade being always in the same position relative to that of the axis of the tobacco rod to be cut. Further, the blade is reciprocated axially so that at the moment of cutting, the lateral speed of the blade is equal to or is approximately equal to that. of the moving tobacco rod. Thus an even cut is assured.

It will be understood that the lateral reciprocation of the knife is such that the cutting blade crosses the path of the cigarette rod in the machine after the rod has moved circular knife.

It will be understood that the cigarette rod passes between the usual ledger plates or the like and that the knife is rotated at such a speed that the interval between two outs is equal to the length of the cigaretterequired.

Preferably the blade of the knife extends for substantially one-tenth of the circumference of the circle'in which the blade is 're- I volved.

- The edge of the knife is preferably autos matically sharpened during every revolution by means of an emery wheel or the like arranged at a suitable angle to the blade edge and oscillated during the period of sharpening 7 in such a manner that it produces an edge on the knife which conforms to the cutting edge of the knife, which is eccentric to the centre of the disc. A second emery wheel 7 or the likemay also be provided for removmechanism of a cigarette-making machine constructed according to one form of the invention, and

Figure 2 is a plan View thereof partly in section, part of the blade-sharpening mechanism being omitted;

Figure 3 is an end elevation partly in section showing the blade-sharpening mechanism.

As shown, the cutter is in the form of a blade 4, suitably clamped between two discs 5 and projecting beyond the peripheries of the discs, its cutting edge being curved eccentrically to the centre of the discs as in Figure 3.

The discs 0 areextended at 6 to support the blade, similar extensions being provided at 7, diametrically opposite, for balancing purposes. The discs 5 are secured to a splined sleeve 8 mounted on a splined shaft 9, the latter being mounted in fixed bearings parallel to the tube 10 (Figure 1) through which the tobacco rod passes from the cigarette-making portion of the machine in the usual manner. The shaft 9 is driven through a pinion 11 by a pinion 12 mounted on a vertical shaft 13 which in turn is driven through a bevel gear 14 actuated by a main driving shaft 15, the latter being driven in any suitable manner. Mounted on bearings 16 on the sleeve operation of the main shaft 15, the shaft 9 edias shown to enable the throw to be varied" as desired.

The tobacco rod from the cigarette-making portion of the machine (not shown) passes through the tube 10 (Figure 1) from the mouthpiece 22, a gap 23 bemg provided through which the blade 4 is adapted to pass to cut the cigarettes, the latter issuing through the tube 10 into a suitable receptacle (not shown). 2

With the above-described arrangement on and blade 4 are rotated and at the same time the blade and housing 17 are reciprocated on the shaft 9, one complete reciprocation preferably corresponding with. one revolution of'the knife. The parts are so adjusted that during the cutting period, when the blade 4 passes through the gap'23, the lateral speed of the blade is equal to, or approximately equal to that ofthe cigarette'rod, the blade being rotated at such a speed thatthe interval between the cuts is equal to the length ofjthe cigarette required.

Preferably theblade extends for substantionally one-tenthof the circumference of the circle in. which it is revolved and the eccentricity of its cutting edge produces a drawcut action on the tobacco rod.

The edge of the. blade 4 is preferably automatica lly sharpened during every revolution by means of an emery or like wheel 24 adj ust: ably mounted in the path of the blade. on a lever 25, pivoted at26 and connected by rod27 to one arm of a bell crank lever 28 mounted on the housing 17 (Figures 1 and 3). The other. arm of the lever 28 is attached to the connecting rod 29, the free end of the rod being anchored to a block 28slidable on afixed portion of the machine'and controlled by a screw 29 having a handle 30. By operating. the screw 29 the length of the connecting rod 29 can be adjusted to lower the wheel 24' as the cutting edge of the knife wears away without stopping the machine.

With thisarrangement, as the blade 4 re volves andthe housing 17 is reciprocated, the

wheel 24' is oscillated once per revolutionof the blade and is so arranged to wipe the edge of the blade once per revolution. The. OSClllation of the wheel 24 is such that it sharpens the blade in the correct curveeccentric tothe centre of the discs carrying the blade.

A second emery or like wheel 31 may be mountedon the housinglf, as shown,.in position tomake contactwith the side ofthe blade employed.

be oscillated in a manner similar to wheel 24.

In the example illustrated the splines on the shaft 9 and sleeve 8 are shown as parallel to the axis of the shaft. By suitably curving' the splinesanincreased speed at the moment; of: cutting mayv be'obtained followed by a corresponding retardation after the cut has been made, during which latter period the blade-is being-sharpened by the wheels 24, 30.

Further, as shown, one knife blade only is Obviously by adjusting the speed. of, rotation of the; clamping discs two or more blades may be used, thetiming being such-that a cigarette is cut off at thepassage of. each blade.

It. will beunderstoodthat the invention.

may be applied to cigarette-making and like machines of various types.

Having; now described my invention what I claimv as new and, desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1-. Cut-01f mechanism for cigarette ma:- chinescomprising a driving, sha ft, having, its axis parallel toandfixed relativelyv to the axis of. the cigarette tube, an eccentrically edged knife mountedon said shaft, a sharpening member, a pivotally mounted support for said, sharpening member; and means adaptedto oscillate saidzsupport to bringthe sharpening;member intocontact with the cutting edge of the knife, the pivoting. of. said support causing a movement of the sharpeningmember relatively tothe axis of the cutter during the sharpening operationto allow for the varying radii of the eccentric edgeof. the} cutter.

2. Cutoff. mechanism for ci arette machines comprising. a driving sha t havinggits axis parallel to and fixed relatively to the, axis of the cigarette tube, a housing surroundingsaid s aft, meansfor reciprocating the housing. alongthe axis of said. shaft, an-

eccentri'cally edged knife operatively coupled to saidhousing so as to reciprocate therewith, a sharpening element, a; pivotally mounted support for said. sharpening. element, means for reciprocating said support.

parallel. to the axis of the shaft. and: synchronously with the reciprocation of saidhousing and-means for moving said support about its pivotto brin the: sharpening element into contact with the cutting, edge of the knifecoupled. to said. housing so.- as torreciprocate' therewith, a sharpening element, a pivotally.

mounted support for said sharpening element carried by said housing and means for oscillating said support to bring the sharpening element into contact with the cutting edge of the knife.

4. Cut off mechanism for cigarette machines as claimed in claim 3, and having a framework, bearings on said framework for said shaft, a block mounted for movement relative to said framework, means connecting the pivotally mounted support for the sharpening member to said block, and means for adjusting the block relatively to the framework in order to effect adjustment of the sharpening element to take up Wear.

5. Cut oif mechanism for cigarette machines as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the means for causing the oscillations of the support for the sharpening element include a 2 device adjustable as to length whereby adjustment of the element relatively to the axis of said shaft to take up wear of the knife may be effected.

6. Cut off mechanism for cigarette machines as claimed in claim 2, and wherein the shaft is splined, a splined sleeve engaging the splines on the shaft and carrying said knife, and means operatively connecting the splined sleeve to the housing.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ARTHUR PODMORE. 

